Port Authority sued by its former no. 2-ranked cop; Speziale was also Passaic County sheriff

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A former New Jersey sheriff who was hired by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey claims in a lawsuit the agency mistreated him and forced him to resign.

Jerry Speziale filed the lawsuit Wednesday in Newark.

The former Passaic County sheriff claims he was hired as deputy police superintendent, with a mandate to root out corruption in the agency's police department. But Speziale claims after he reported violations, he was subject to retaliation.

Among his allegations is a claim he was denied medical leave benefits for his terminally ill wife and was denied security credentials for Port Authority facilities.

Speziale resigned last year to become police chief in a town in Alabama.